In the wake of natural disaster, people scramble to reclaim their lives and do their best to get back to normal. However, a minor home repair job oftentimes turns into a major overhaul. Once you repair the roof and redo two rooms, you realize that you might as well touch up the rest of the house. After completing the inside, you find that the outside begs for new paint or siding and while you're at it, you might as well revise your landscape.

Landscaping your lawn not only beautifies, but also adds depth, texture and value to your property. Here are a few ideas on creating your dream lawn.

If your idea of the perfect lawn is an oasis of beauty consisting of waterfalls, rock gardens and goldfish ponds; a virtual Garden of Eden right in your back yard, but you think its impossible, take heart. Dreams can come true with the aide of landscaping boulders. We all know there's nothing like the real thing, but with the invention of fake or faux boulders, even the most exotic landscaping idea can become reality.

Boulders add grace and beauty to an otherwise boring yard. They are used to conceal drainpipes, lights and security cameras. Perfect for lining a goldfish pond, accenting a swimming pool, or surrounding a flowerbed or herb garden, landscape boulders are also used to create or line a walkway, accentuate an outdoor patio or deck, create or outline a rock garden, as well as a monument marking the grave of a pet or special event such as a wedding. By using a combination of fake and natural stones, landscape boulders, and strategically placed plants, possibly even a faux waterfall, you can turn a regular swimming pool into a private laguna.

Everyone dreams of sitting beside the ocean a quiet pond or tranquil river to find peace. By using water feature landscaping you can create your own little slice of paradise right in your backyard. Water feature landscaping is using the beauty of water and nature to enhance your landscape design. This includes but is not limited to ponds, rock formations, artificial waterfalls and other artistic development of lawns and gardens.

Using the same psychological principle as aquariums, water feature landscaping provides the perfect environment to sooth and relax even the most stressed soul. Water gardens and/or water feature landscaping can be suited to the individual needs of those interested in acclimating this environment into their existing one. Depending on the size of your property or the area designed for water feature landscaping, your water garden as it's called- can be as simple as a large aquarium or as complicated as a man-made waterfall.

The beauty and tranquility of a water garden is not limited to those with ample room in their yard. In fact, water feature landscaping is becoming so popular, that it's been brought indoors with the invention of the tiny tabletop waterfall lamps and rock formations. Simply set it up, fill it with water, plug it in and watch it flow. As with large, outdoor water gardens, these tabletop waterfalls are accentuated with accessories such as lights and music.

With the same principles used in water feature landscaping, strategically placed rock formations, plants, lights and music and transform ordinary bathrooms and Jacuzzi areas into extraordinary indoor paradises. So, the next time you think of water feature landscaping, don't limit yourself or your imagination to the outdoors. Patios, sun rooms, even screened-in porches are all places you can transform with water feature landscaping.

If the idea of waterfalls, boulders and rock formations or water gardens are just too much to contemplate, a simple way to improve your existing landscape design to use gravel in place of mulch. Landscape artists have found that landscaping with gravel is a beautiful alternative to mulch. Known for it's ability to control weeds, prevent soil erosion and aid in the retention of soil moisture, landscaping gravel is perfect around trees, shrubs, flower or other landscape beds. Another common use of landscape gravel is around pools and patios, as well as along walks and walls, providing a smooth, finished look. Used around drainage areas or building foundations, landscape gravel helps prevent splash and gives lawns a pleasing appearance.

When used in combination with natural stone or fake boulders, landscape gravel can add depth and beauty as well as a more natural look to a water garden, rock bed or waterfall. Regardless of how you use it or what your landscape design might be, landscape gravel comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Whether multicolored and decorative, or similar in cut and pattern, landscaping with gravel can add a groomed appearance to the simplest of lawns.

Whether you decide to use boulders, water feature landscaping or colored gravel to improve your current landscape design, remember it is imperative that you reclaim your life and get back to normal as soon as possible after a catastrophic event, especially a hurricane. Since nature delivered a shock to the entire region, this is vitally important for your property so the simplest thing you can do is to make it a point to aerate your lawn.

Aerating is the process of putting tiny holes the soil of your lawn. This process allows water, air and fertilizer to penetrate the ground, encouraging better absorption of the things necessary for a beautiful lawn. Aerating your lawn ensures a healthy root system, resulting in a more beautiful appearance.​Two of the main reasons to aerate your lawn are poor drainage and inadequate absorption of fertilizer to the grass roots. Excess water washes away fertilizer and important nutrients necessary for a healthy lawn. If your lawn stays too wet or soggy, you need to get that excess water out of there. On the other hand, if your ground is too hard or dry, it prevents fertilizer from getting to the roots and hinders absorption of the nutrients that supplement a beautiful yard. Aeration solves both of these problems.

The best time to aerate your lawn is either the Spring or Fall. Aerating can be done with a simple garden tool called an aerator or, if you have a large lawn, you can buy or rent a machine that does it for you. An aerator looks like a garden fork but has hollow tubes instead of prongs. Simply push it into the ground about four inches deep and space your holes six inches apart.

For more information on aeration, water feature landscaping, or using gravel, rock formations and gravel, contact your local nursery, greenhouse or lawn and garden expert. Also check out publications such as Lawn & Garden or other magazines geared to answering your lawn care questions.

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She has over twenty years experience in bookkeeping, insurance and tax preparation. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

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